‘Hell and Back Again’ in Afghanistan

I wonder if all of our money spent on all the wars in the area in the last 10 years is anything close to the current national debt?

I wonder if all of our money paid to civilian contractors and the CIA has done anything good?

I believe we went over there with good intentions and things went wrong, really wrong!

Reasons for the war just kept expanding, civilians died, homes and businesses destroyed, and the US is hated more now than ever before.

I believe our Washington leaders(?) lied, lied and lied even more to everyone world wide and just had to go to war (its a man thing.)

I wonder if our Giver-ment will cut health care for the war veterans to balance the budget.

I wonder if Washington will cancel Social Security, Medicare, military retirement and raid the funds to pay toward the debt. I would also wonder if Washington would raid the Congressional retirement fund (or should I say fun?)

It is difficult for those who have not fought on the lines, to appreciate the real costs of war. Those who lose family to the death or ravages, get a small taste, but only a small one. The real cost of war, is the atrocity of it. To commit atrocities like that, unless we are threatened is so morally wrong, and should be avoided, whenever possible.
Since, before Nam, we have had the ability to surgically strike targets, usually w/o even troops on the ground. A 'WAR" on terrorism is insanity; war CAUSES terrorism, not diminishes or stops it. None of the nations we have screwed with are a viable threat to us, they are mice to a tiger. These wars are about opening markets, and maintaining markets; and it is the very worst kind of immorality when people die, for others to make money, particularly when they are manipulated into it with lies and deceits.
To come home from a war like WWII, where one, obviously, protected their families and loved ones, is far different from coming home from wars like Viet Nam (I was greeted with rotten vegetables being thrown at me), Afganistan, and Iraq; where we were the aggressors. These are sovreign nations, and should fight their own battles if they wish freedom. Viet Nam was, at least an ally, these others, we had no legitimate rationale to mess up, or with their countries.
If we want a democratic, or capitalistic world, then lead by example, not by force.

That war will stop if all the politicians sons and daughters will be sent there.

40 billion on mispent construction cost, plus a trillion for actually fighting the war.

So I guess that means a full TWO THIRDS of all gulf veterans believe that the war on terror in Afghanistan and Iraq WERE worth fighting. But hey, that little fact isn't conducive to Ms. Amanpour's position though, is it?

--------------- 40 BILLION That $$ needed to stay in this Country..

10 years of war...woooow...it wont ever end..

War, big buisness ......

If you have a president who has served and lugged a pack or slept on the freezing ground, he will always be reluctant to use force. He understands the violence and useslessness of war.The untold suffering of the inocent. It is a choice of last resort!

HELL THE WAR COSTS TRILLONS OF DOLLARS NOT BILLONS.To bring them home 50%
have to agree not just the Presdent

Nine empires have tried to tame Afghanistan and all have failed. Why? The Afganhans live in the 8th century. They eat lamb, eat bread and drink tea and plot to kill their neighbor. It's frezzing cold in the winter and super hot in the summer. This is a place that should not be allowed to join the world gene pool.. I know I been there! There is no way these guys could hurt any U.S. Citizen if they wanted too. They don't know where it is on the map! Time to bring our guys home..

If you see one America company profiting from this war you have to wonder why. Where is their sacrifice. So if it seems like a little conspireing is going on; thats what you see. What dont we see? Question authority.

Somebody needs to channel Gen. George Patton. "Kill them all, and let God sort out the good ones." They live in prehistoric conditions because civilization has passed them by. I don't think one dead or 100,000 dead US brothers and sisters can bring them up to speed. Their "cash" crop is heroin. Go figure!

What war? We're not at war. A war is fought to win. Our troops are not allowed to win. They are glorified policemen in a country that doesn't want them there. A police action is never won and never over. Call it a day, pull the troops out, come home and stay out of police actions. If and when we do have another "war" fight it like it is a war, inflict so much damage on the enemy that they lose their will to fight.

Ask us Vietnam vets and I think most of us feel the same way...as a vet the guys over there have my support but I don't like this war and wish our country would bring the troops home.

Each and every senator and representative should have their kids in on this fight

Billions of dollars spent on war. Islamic radicals are beating us in economic struggle even if they can't do it on the battle field. I grieve for our wounded warriors and all of our military families devastated by this ten year war. The only ones profitting are military-industrial complex who thrive on war! American corporations get rich on money poured into
Iraq and Afghanistan! Look at Halburton!

History has proven that to change anything in the middle east is a total waste of time and resources; yet our polticians just don't get it. We've spent ourselves into bankrupcy and as soon as our troops leave, the same old problems will return. We don't understand their culture and we're not about to change it. Thousands of GI's have died over there and for what? What we need to do is keep them from infiltrating this country. Regardless of what our politicians say, it's all about oil and we have our own oil right here in the western hemisphere. Why we don't drill for it is simply mind boggling. We might as well have a monkeys in the Congress and White House. At least it would be cheaper.

I served 3 tours with the 1st Marine Division.. And from someone whos been there.. I can tell you, we haven't won/earned anything.

Even when the tremendous dollar costs of these unfunded wars are made public, people still blame Mr Obama for not balancing the budget, a task made infinitely more difficult by the intransigence of the GOP/Tea Party to undo the Bush-43 era tax cuts for corporations and the wealthiest 1% of taxpayers. And people wonder aloud what the OWS protesters really want.